The Pearl That Broke Its Shell: An Emotional Novel of Two Women's Stories Intertwined by Time and Tradition in Afghanistan

It is a fantastic read which grabs you and draws you into the horrors which awaited women in Afghanistan for points in time. Unique insight into the lives of 2 women in Afghanistan. Very Brutal and heartbreaking at times. I assume the story is based somewhat on Reality, which, if true, is disturbing to realise.

Thank you Nadia for your expression of love for these women and for all the Afghan women they represent. A book worth reading

Heartbreaking, insightful, inspiring...don't accept misfortune as faith, you have the strength to change faith. In darkness find the light. Beautifully written, a truly inspiring book, where you truly connect with the characters...A story you should never forget.

The description of this book intrigued me and I was not disappointed. The author writes beautifully, handles difficult topics with ease and had me wanting more as I read each chapter. This book, while fiction, details the challenges and misogyny faced by so many women, not just in Afghanistan. These topics were hard to read but I feel more knowledgeable now. I look forward to reading more by Hashimi.

Nice story of two women living side by side with years apart. Story of courage and resilience. At times, it dragged, but overall, a good read.

The book is well written and, like the novels by Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner, and A Thousand Splendid Suns, it is both astonishing and heart breaking as the social and cultural mores of another world are opened up and the brutality and beauty of life is allowed to run riot. That said, I am not sure that the interweaving of two generations really worked for me. I am not sure why the two stories, woven through the book, didn't hang together for me - as the interweaving of separate lives through a novel is quite a common approach. I had to concentrate to work out which generation I was reading about. Perhaps the differences weren't sufficiently visible. The return to the past generation, at the end of some of the chapters, was a little manipulative; it didn't flow well. I ended up jumping chapters to complete the story of one woman (Rahima) and then going back through the book to read those chapters devoted to the life of the great great grandmother Shekiba. Either story, set by itself and developed into a single life journey would have worked better in my view.

Beautiful and heart breaking story. Showing lives and struggles of two women from same family but different generation. Story about hope and perseverance in the worse of circubstances.

An amazing, informative and often heartbreaking story. I do believe we who have been fortunate enough to be born in countries and cultures where women are not repressed and devalued in such awful ways, should all read the novel, appreciate our good fortune and show compassion and respect for the women and girls who start life so terribly disadvantaged, but often fight for their rights, and indeed their lives, so couragesly.

“The woman of this family don’t travel much. Get used to these walls. They are going to be all you see.” How absurd this is!!! Can you imagine someone saying this to you? I can’t. I shuddered just thinking about it and this is how almost all of the women in Afghanistan lives. Not allowed to make friends, not allowed to go outside alone and many more restrictions which just seems illogical. After reading Hosseini’s books I never thought I’d like any other book based on Afghanistan and Kabul OR anyone else would match his level of amazing writing but Hashmi here nailed it with her super friendly and easygoing writing. Its writing plays a big role here, it makes you feel warm and real. I could see things happening in front of my eyes. And let me tell you this book doesn’t bore you at ANY page throughout the book. From the very first chapter you’ll get hooked. I was stick to this book till the end. Hashmi has also shed some light on people blaming everything what they do on ‘Naseeb’. I personally think we get the reaction of our action. We’re the ones who make our fate. And this book conveys exactly that! There are two stories simultaneously going. One is of Rahima with 4 other sisters who’s transformed into a boy through ‘bacha-posh’ tradition. Other one is of Shekiba, Rahima’s Khala Shaima tell them their great-great grandmother’s courageous and strugglesome story. It’s sad how unstable women’s life is there. I totally loved this book and when I was only half done with the book I understood that she’s going to be one of my favourite authors and I added all her books to my list to buy super soon!♥️ 🔺Highly Recommended!🔺 ________ Cover and the spine of the book is very delicate which made the reading easier. In great condition and perfectly delivered.

O livro descreve a vida de duas mulheres afgãs em uma sociedade machista. Traz características e a compreensão de uma cultura diferente da ocidental. É de fácil leitura e envolvente.

MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS Nadia Hashimi's debut novel, "The Pearl that Broke Its Shell," is a compelling and evocative tale that intertwines the lives of two Afghan women separated by a century. Through the practice of bacha posh, where girls dress and live as boys, Hashimi explores themes of gender, identity, and resilience in a deeply patriarchal society. The novel alternates between the stories of Rahima, a young girl in present-day Afghanistan, and her great-great-grandmother, Shekiba, in the early 20th century. Rahima, one of five daughters, is transformed into a bacha posh to provide her family with the benefits of having a "son." This role allows her to attend school and perform tasks restricted to boys. Rahima's story highlights the temporary freedoms she gains and the challenges she faces when societal norms reassert themselves. Rahima's story is mirrored by Shekiba's journey, who also faced immense hardships and societal constraints. Shekiba's resilience and resourcefulness highlight the persistent challenges for Afghan women across generations. Her experiences provide a historical context to Rahima’s struggles, showing the enduring nature of these issues. Hashimi's writing style is lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in the cultural and social landscapes of Afghanistan. Her use of detailed descriptions and rich character development brings the settings and personalities to life. The dual narrative structure not only enriches the storytelling but also allows for a nuanced exploration of the parallels and contrasts between the two women's experiences. Hashimi excels in creating a vivid, multi-faceted portrayal of her characters' inner lives and external challenges. Her storytelling is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, capturing the essence of human resilience and the enduring quest for freedom and self-determination. "The Pearl that Broke Its Shell" is a powerful and enlightening read that celebrates the indomitable spirit of Afghan women. Hashimi's debut is a significant contribution to contemporary literature about Afghanistan, offering a profound look into the complexities of gender roles and the strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in stories of women's resilience and the cultural dynamics of traditional societies.

In her debut novel, Nadia Hashimi has gifted the world with a wonderfully written, mesmerizing look into a fascinating family drama set in Afghanistan. The main protagonists are Rahima, a young 21st century Afghani girl and her great-great-grandmother Shekiba who lived in the early 20th century. The story shifts between the young women who share not only DNA, but the fact that both were allowed for awhile to dress and live as males. Under a custom called bacha posh, families who do not have sons or have a single son, may allow a daughter to have her hair cut in boy fashion, don boy’s clothing, be given the freedom of boys to attend school, play in the streets, do marketing and price haggling for the family, earn money for the family, freed from household chores, be favored by the father, and receive the best food at home. After the onset of puberty, the girl has to transition back to a traditional Afghani female. Wherein lies much of the poignancy of this exquisite story. Once they have tasted freedom, recognition and respect, the bacha posh can have difficulty adjusting back to their culture’s traditional female role. Rahima, allowed to become a bacha posh, is one of five daughters. Her outspoken, sharp-tongued maternal aunt, Khala Shaima, never married due to a physical deformity, visits the family frequently to urge that the Rahima and her sisters be allowed to attend school, that they are as worthy as boys. She also tells them many stories, including that of Shekiba, their great-great-grandmother. Although the girls are allowed to attend school for a short time, after an incident with boys harassing them in the streets, they ultimately end up homebound. Rahima’s father is not a good provider, had spent much of his young adulthood fighting with the mujahideen against the Russian occupiers. His re-entry to civilian life did not go well. Between his substance abuse and his lack of a son, he was an angry, bitter man. His continued alliance with the local warlord from his mujahideen days will have drastic consequences for his family. Shekiba was the daughter of a happily married couple. Her father was a farmer who could make any crop grow, a true man of the earth. He taught all of his children to read. Her mother, two brothers and a sister died in a cholera outbreak, leaving Shekiba and her father working the farm. After father dies, Shekiba tells no one and continues to work the farm on her own, dawning her burqa if anyone approaches the homestead. Eventually her deception is discovered, she is moved to her grandmother’s house in the family compound and treated worse than a servant. Her spirit is fatigued at times, but never defeated. Shekiba becomes a female dressed as a male in the king’s harem, just outside the palace. The king has learned not to trust male guards. The description of Shekiba’s life in the harem is interesting and very compelling. The prestige of the concubines, the size of their apartments, their wardrobes and jewelry, were determined by the favor they held with the king. For the most part, this was dependent on the number of male children the concubine bore. The same measure used for Afghani wives, actually. Despite the luxury and leisure afforded concubines, there was always a shadow of danger hanging over them in their silk and jewelry-laden prison. Displeasing the king could be deadly. There is a vivid description of a stoning of a concubine who has entertained another man. This story is fascinating. Not only is it beautifully written, but the two arcs of the story, Shekiba and Rahima, based a century apart, show the similarities and contrasts of the female role in Afghani society. Shekiba saw the beginnings of modernization for Afghanistan under King Amanullah and Queen Soraya which included the expansion of the roles for women in society (true historical characters). A century later, Rahima actually participates in the Afghani legislature as assistant to a female representative. King Amanullah’s efforts to modernize Afghanistan a century ago were met with resistance and rebellion, eventually forcing him into exile after less than a decade of rule. It is still an open question whether today’s efforts to modernize the country and expand the role of women in the Afghani culture will succeed. The message of this book is that through the indomitable nature of the human spirit, there is hope, no matter the external circumstances of one’s existence. I gave this book a 4.75/5.0 rating. I hated to put it down to work, eat, sleep, and actually read it while I was on the treadmill and bike at the gym. I have barely sketched the stories of these two women; there are many other characters in the book who are just as mesmerizing. The most intense focus is on the women, but the men’s stories are represented as well because more than anything else, this is a novel about family. The men’s fates are also shaped by cultural expectations and how they use the power endowed by their societal structure has consequences for everyone around them. Some choose to brutalize others with this power while other men choose kindness, empathy and love.

I really don't have a lot of time for reading, so it usually takes me a while to get through a book. I normally only read on my morning commute, but this book was something else. I read the first few pages and put it away because I wasn't quite sure I liked it. I'm glad I picked it back up after a few days and continued because the plot and writing very soon picked up and left me unable to put it down. I finished it within a week. A wonderful tale, so true to life and the harsh reality that it's both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I can only recommend it.